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Residency Matching Program For Urology
2009 Urology Residency Match Program Schedule
The Urology Residency Matching Program assigns match numbers to applicants and programs that register online. Applicants register with the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®) and contact programs to request application forms, for those programs not participating in ERAS®, and to set up interviews. All applicants and programs complete the preference list forms online and submit to the Urology Residency Matching Program no later than January 5, 2009. The Urology Residency Matching Program performs the match and sends out results to applicants, medical schools and urology training programs. In some cases, applicants must also go through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) as a formality for the surgery training required before urology training. Applicants should check with each program to determine their requirements relative to the NRMP match. For information regarding the urology match: Urology Residency Matching Program Listing of Accredited Urology Programs Residency programs are reviewed and accredited by the Residency Review Committee for Urology (RRC - Urology). Accreditation status of programs may be obtained by contacting: Administrative Assistant, RRC for Urology The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) can be reached at: The American Board of Urology is the certifying body in urology. Requirements for foreign medical graduates may vary from year to year and from state to state. Be sure to obtain up-to-date information from individual programs. In 1985, the urology program directors, under the direction of the Society of University Urologists, established a matching program for first year urology residents. This match is for medical students graduating in 2009 (and other qualified applicants) for their first year of urology, regardless of the number of pre-urology training years required. It is not a substitute for the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match. (After the urology match is completed in January 2009, applicants matched with certain urology training programs will have adequate time to go through the NRMP match for the general training which is required prior to beginning urological training. This is a formality required by some surgery department/divisions and they will provide the code to submit on the preference form for the NRMP match.) This matching system combines the rank-ordered preferences of both the programs and applicants to produce a list of matches acceptable to both parties, eliminating the process of offer/counter-offer. Match Guidelines for Residency Programs When an applicant and a program director agree to enter into the match process, they each assent to be bound by the results. As a consequence of this mutual assent, a contract is created, enforceable at law. If the applicant/resident and the program director cannot agree on withdrawal or change of assignment, such disagreement or violation of the residency contract may be referred to Urology Residency Match Office, and will be reported to officials of the Society of University Urologists (SUU), for whom the match is conducted. However, neither AUA nor SUU will have ultimate responsibility for dispute resolution, which must be undertaken between the resident and the institution to which he is contractually bound. The American Board of Urology and/or the American Council of Graduate Medical Education may be of assistance in resolving such disputes. Program Applications/Interviews It is the applicant's responsibility to contact each of the programs in which he/she is interested and to follow their application and interview procedures. You should be certain you are aware of each program's requirements, including application deadline, policies regarding pre-urology training and participation in the NRMP match. Participation in Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®) is on an individual program basis. Check the ERAS® web site http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/ for information and a list of programs participating. Applicants should know they are under no obligation to reveal their program preferences to any program director and that no participating program director can make a binding offer other than through the match program. Both parties are free to change their intentions without prejudice up to the time that final rank-ordered lists are submitted. No changes can be made after a preference list is submitted. Contact by letter is always permissible. Telephone contact initiated by a program director or department personnel at any level is considered undue pressure and should not take place. Telephone calls from applicants are acceptable. See Match Guidelines for Residency Programs for more details. The training requirement before a resident enters a urology training program is usually one or two years of residency, preferably in general surgery. The urology match described is for medical students graduating in 2009 (and other qualified applicants) for their first year of urology, regardless of the number of pre-urology training years required. After this match is completed applicants and programs can still participate, as necessary, in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) for pre-urology training with the code provided by the surgery department of the urology program with which they matched. Applicants are charged a one-time non-refundable $75 matching fee to be submitted with their application for an I.D. number. Registrations without the matching fee will not be assigned an identification number for the match. Click here to view potential residency vacancies. Unmatched applicants can contact these programs directly to negotiate with the program. Changes to Preference Lists:
Submission of Preference Lists:
Previous years' matches have demonstrated the need for applicants to include on their preference lists all of the programs they would be willing to attend. Some applicants who were not matched at all received offers from programs they did not list. If the applicants had listed all programs preferable to not training in urology, some of these "misses" might have been avoided. The same holds true for programs. By listing all acceptable applicants, the program protects itself from cases of applicants implying that the program will be their first choice and then changing their minds when submitting their preference lists. The best way to assure a good match is for applicants and programs to list all acceptable choices in order of desirability rather than in order of perceived chances of receiving offers or acceptances. When the match is complete, summary reports are prepared for the Match Review Committee prior to general distribution. The results of the match will be disseminated as follows:
All results will be available by 9:00 A.M. EST, Monday, January 26, 2009. To view any unfilled urology vacancies, select Program vacancies and then select click here under the applicants. Unmatched applicants can contact these programs directly to negotiate with the program. There are three safeguards present to ensure an accurate match:
Questions and Answers about the Urology Residency Matching Program Applicant Question: I already plan to participate in the NRMP at the PGY-1 level. What influence will this have on that match? Answer: None. The result of this year's urology match will be reported by January 26, 2009 leaving plenty of time for you to complete your papers for the NRMP PGY-1 match, either to your urology program's surgery program, or another, depending on your agreement with the program and their arrangements with their surgery program. Applicant Question: Is this match limited to fourth year students? Answer: No. Any qualified applicant can enter the match. Applicant Question: Is there a limit on the number of programs an applicant can list or applicants that a program can list? Answer: No. However listing programs where you did not interview most likely will not increase your chances of being "matched." Applicant Question: What is the number of interviews needed to secure at least one offer? Answer: Whether or not you receive an offer depends on the impression you create during your interviews and on your credentials, not on the number of interviews. Some applicants obtain a position from a single interview. An occasional applicant may conduct more than 20 interviews and obtain no offers. Applicant Question: Where should I apply and interview? Answer: That depends on many personal factors. You should contact faculty members at your medical school and current and past residents to learn more about various programs before you interview. Different programs use different criteria. Try to assess your chances realistically. Applicant Question: How should I decide whether to list a program on my preference list? Answer: Ask yourself: "If this were my only offer, would I accept it?" If the answer is positive you should list the program. We anticipate several applicants will remain unmatched because they did not list the programs that offer them a position and will receive no offers from programs they do list. Applicant Question: I like Program X, and I believe the program director likes me. Should I list more than that single program? Answer: Yes. That program director might change his/her mind. There is no disadvantage whatsoever in listing alternative choices as a safeguard. Applicant Question: Can I optimize my chances by listing a program first for which I think I have the best chance of acceptance? Answer: No. You should list your true preference first, regardless of probability estimates. You cannot match unless you receive on offer. Whether you receive an offer depends on your position on the program's list. Program directors never see your list. The only purpose of your list is to determine which offer to accept, should you receive more than one offer. Applicant Question: Could I end up being "matched" to a program I do not really want? Answer: No. We can only accept on your behalf offers from programs you have listed. The Matching Program does not question your judgment and cannot in any way guarantee that you or the program director will remain satisfied with each other's performance. In the years between your interview and the completion of your residency it is possible that some programs will experience changes in their faculty, in funding, or even in accreditation. The Matching Program promises you diligence in processing your ranking lists, but neither it nor the AUA can accept any responsibility whatsoever for any such changes or for their consequences. Applicant Question: I have had second thoughts about my career goals. Can I withdraw from the position I accepted through the Matching Program? Answer: Because of your acceptance, another applicant was prevented from obtaining that position. Withdrawal is possible only in exceptional circumstances. See "Contractual Responsibilities" for more details. Applicant Question: My circumstances do not allow me to apply through the urology match one to two years before my residency. Are all positions closed for people like me? Answer: No. Your choices will be severely limited, but additional vacancies may become available if other applicants withdraw. These positions are listed on the vacancy area of the AUA web site. Applicant Question: I want to transfer to a second- or third-year residency position in a different program. Can you help me? Answer: See "Contractual Responsibilities" for the necessary steps to do this. Once you complete the necessary steps, you may then list yourself on our vacancy applicant list. Please note that very few such openings occur. You may e-mail resmatch@auanet.org with any questions. Applicant Question: I did not match. Can you provide me a list of programs that did not match so that I can contact them? Answer: No. The AUA cannot disclose which programs did not match. If a program wishes to list their vacancy, they will do so in the vacancy area of the AUA web site. Please do not call the AUA requesting this information. Applicant Question: I am a foreign medical graduate and would like to participate in the Match. What steps must I take? Answer: You will need to register for the Match through the AUA web site. You are also encouraged to register and submit your application materials through The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). For additional requirements for foreign medical graduates, contact the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) at www.ecfmg.org. Applicant Question: I've submitted my on-line preference list through the AUA web site. Is there anything else I need to do? Answer: No. You should receive an e-mail confirmation of your final list. If the list is correct, you do not need to do anything further. Faxing or mailing your preference list is not necessary. If you need to change your list for any reason, you must contact the Match Office at resmatch@auanet.org or 866-746-4282 (x3913). No list changes will be made after the final preference list deadline. Applicant Question: What are the minimum United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores an applicant must have to be considered by a program? Answer: The AUA does not have this information. You may want to contact the programs directly. Program Director Question: A mediocre applicant tells me he likes our program. Some better applicants are non-committal. Which should I rank first? Answer: List the better ones first. You may or may not match with them; that depends on the other offers they receive. Not listing (or downgrading) the better applicants eliminates your chance of getting them and it does not enhance your chance of matching the other applicants. Program Director Question: Could my program end up being "matched" to an applicant we do not like? Answer: No. Positions can only be offered to applicants you have listed on your preference list. Program Director Question: What is considered appropriate contact after the interview process is completed? Answer: Contact by letter is always permissible. Telephone contact initiated by a program director or department personnel at any level is considered undue pressure and should not take place. Telephone calls from applicants are acceptable. Program Director Question: I've submitted my on-line preference list through the AUA web site. Is there anything else I need to do? Answer: No. You should receive an e-mail confirmation of your final list. If the list is correct, you do not need to do anything further. Faxing or mailing your preference list is not necessary. If you need to change your list for any reason, you must contact the Match Office at resmatch@auanet.org or 866-746-4282 (x3913). No list changes will be made after the final preference list deadline. Program Director Question: I don't check my e-mail regularly. How can I make sure I am receiving all necessary Match information? Answer: We encourage you to provide the e-mail address of someone in your office (i.e., residency coordinator) who checks e-mail regularly, as most Match correspondence is conducted via e-mail. Keep in mind that preference list confirmations will be sent to this e-mail address.
There are 112 non-military accredited urology residency programs in the United States. (Military programs cannot participate due to government regulations regarding eligibility.) For 2008, 110 non-military accredited urology residency programs in the United States listed 247 positions with 246 vacancies being matched. 404 applicants submitted preference lists netting 158 unmatched applicants. Of U.S. senior medical students applying, 70 percent were matched. Please click here to download a form: sample preference list form. |
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